To The Influential Twins Next Door

No arrangement of words can express how thankful I am to have met you two. Moving away from home is a journey within itself, but finding people who ease that change is even harder. There was portion of me that felt entirely lost, and with time, you both helped mend that distance.

During my college transition, I was unaware that I needed the type of guidance you two had to offer. With so many different types of campus ministries to explore on campus, I had no idea where to start. I was intimidated at the thought of feeling left out or alone as I showed up to events alone or only knowing a few others. It seemed I attended a new ministry organization every week, and everyone I encountered was nice, but I didn’t feel connected; I longed for a connection that I once had at a previous church back home. It was a very particular feeling, but one I wasn’t going to give up on. I wanted to feel at ease and entirely myself while I was improving my life through faith. The other student organizations I’d joined hadn’t started their meetings yet, and I felt at a loss for quite a while.

However, something, or someone, I could always count on to brighten my spirits were you two. The first time I met you two, your shirts broadcasting “Coffee and Jesus” were too adorable to ignore. Every time I passed either or both of you in the hall or around campus, you were always in bright, positive spirits, that I couldn’t help but smile when I was around. Your contagious attitudes not only affected me, but everyone around you as well. As I endured difficult times and we grew closer, you two were full of words of wisdom, kindness, and a shoulder to lean on. Meeting real, genuine, faith-driven people like you two is simply so rare, and I am oh-so thankful.

One of the most impactful moments for me, was when you invited me to your small group for a weekly Bible study. At that point, I was looking for ways to get even more involved and interact with more people. The people you introduced me to were so welcoming and accepting as I described issues or personal struggles I was facing. I never felt insecure or judged, and was fully appreciative. You all actually listened and made me realize I was not in my battles alone. You reminded me that my faith was something I needed to become more dependant on, and helped me along taking those steps to get into that routine. I cannot thank you enough for pointing me in a positive direction and making me feel included when I felt most alone. You’ve involved me in something much bigger than myself, and I have to thank you for giving me such great friendships and opportunities to better myself. You two are truly one of a kind and are going to do amazing things.

College As Told By Junie B. Jones

The Junie B. Jones series was a big part of my childhood. They were the first chapter books I ever read. On car trips, my mother would entertain my sister and me by purchasing a new Junie B. Jones book and reading it to us. My favorite part about the books then, and still, are how funny they are. Junie B. takes things very literally, and her (mis)adventures are hilarious. A lot of children's authors tend to write for children and parents in their books to keep the attention of both parties. Barbara Park, the author of the Junie B. Jones series, did just that. This is why many things Junie B. said in Kindergarten could be applied to her experiences in college, as shown here.

When Junie B. introduces herself hundreds of times during orientation week:

“My name is Junie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don't like Beatrice. I just like B and that's all." (Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, p. 1)

When she goes to her first college career fair:

"Yeah, only guess what? I never even heard of that dumb word careers before. And so I won't know what the heck we're talking about." (Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth, p. 2)

When she thinks people in class are gossiping about her:

“They whispered to each other for a real long time. Also, they kept looking at me. And they wouldn't even stop." (Junie B., First Grader Boss of Lunch, p. 66)

When someone asks her about the library:

“It's where the books are. And guess what? Books are my very favorite things in the whole world!" (Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, p. 27)

When she doesn't know what she's eating at the caf:

“I peeked inside the bread. I stared and stared for a real long time. 'Cause I didn't actually recognize the meat, that's why. Finally, I ate it anyway. It was tasty...whatever it was." (Junie B., First Grader Boss of Lunch, p. 66)

Finding Your Niche In College Starts With Finding You

Transitioning to college is hard enough, but trying to find a place where you feel "at home" can make this time even more stressful. Here are some tips on how to find that place/group of people that make you feel like sunshine.

I have always felt a little out of place wherever I went, but it wasn't until college that I realized that this feeling was so special and more people should capitalize on their differences rather than conforming to a certain mold. Transitioning to college and finding your place among so many people can be very overwhelming. The added stress of attempting to be someone you aren't for the sake of having company adds a whole other layer to this problem. The easiest thing for me to do in any situation like this is trying to make the setting a little smaller. One of the most obvious ways to do this on a college campus is by getting involved!

It is inevitable that within the first few weeks of the semester at any college, there will be an organization fair. This is a chance to scope out all that your school has to offer! Chances are there will be some type of group or club that lines up with your interests. Most college campuses have extracurricular opportunities ranging from social sororities and fraternities, professional ones, intermural sports, vocal groups, and so many more. You are more than likely going to find some type of organization that you can call home if you seek them out. Joining an organization is such an easy way to interact with people with similar interests. An interest can bring two completely different people together and create some beautiful friendships. It is situations like this where it is important to be your authentic self and mingle with those you share something with.

That being said, finding your place in college isn't always about being involved. Getting involved on campus is just one of the simplest ways to start. There are so many other opportunities on campus to meet people whether it be among others in your residence hall, people in your classes, or just people you find yourself stumbling upon! Finding people to spend your time with is easy; however, you should make it a point to surround yourself with people who bring you up.

Once you have a set group of people that you find yourself spending time with, it is important to pay attention to the way you feel when you're around them. If you find yourself feeling bad about yourself or get the impression that you need to change something in order to "fit in," chances are the people you're around are not the best for you or your self-esteem. It is important to surround yourself with people who allow you to feel comfortable in your own skin. That being said, you also want people who encourage you to make good decisions and help you reach your goals. People who encourage toxic behavior in your life might be fun in the short term, but in the grand scheme of things, you need to be surrounded by people with your best interest in mind. Essentially, surrounding yourself with people who influence you to be your best self is one of the best decisions you can make short and long term.

The key to all of this is being conscious of your own feelings and needs. Pay attention to who reaches out to you to hang out. Notice the ones who pay attention to you as you speak when it feels like no one is listening. More than anything, be conscious of who you're with and where you're at when you experience moments of pure happiness. Life is too short to waste your precious time on people who don't build you up. Wouldn't you rather spend your time with more moments of pure joy than self-hate? Start living for you!